These strange creatures are often found amid ruins, bone piles, burial grounds, shrines and temples sacred to the Great Old One Atlach-Nacha. They are small, eight legged creatures, with sharp fangs and venomous bites. While they do produce silk they do not use it to spin webs to hunt, but to create lairs, nests, and line burrows. They also employ silk to create a tether lines, allowing them to silently descend from heights, often onto unsuspecting targets.
Like hermit crabs these creatures select and dwell within a found object, but instead of shells they exclusively employ human skulls. They appear as if they are human skills with six long legs, with the last pair used to secure themselves to the inside of their skull/shell. The skull they inhabit offers their bodies some protection. Death Head Spiders are usually found in groups, infesting a location with anywhere between a handful (1D4+1) to a full infestation (2D12+6).
In combat they stalk their prey, closing the distance before rushing or jumping (up to four feet) at their target. Their bite does little damage but does carry a minor poison (Extreme CON check or 1D3). This venom causes drowsiness and lethargy, with those effected suffering 1 Penalty dice for the next 1D4+1 combat rounds. Keepers may increase this to 2 penalty dice for individuals bitten multiple times.
Death’s Head Spiders lay their eggs in the skulls of their fallen victims. After hatching the young fight amongst themselves, killing and devouring their siblings until only the strongest survives. This hatchling eventually develops into an adult Deaths Head Spider. These creatures are often kept as pets by worshipers of Atlach-Nacha, and the skulls of those human sacrificed on alters as offerings to the Great Old One are eagerly claimed by these creatures.
Death’s Head Spider, Horrifying Arachnid
Char. Averages rolls
STR 20 (1D3+2 x 5)
CON 60 (2D6+5 x 5)
SIZ 20 (1D3+2 x 5)
DEX 65 (3D6+3 x 5)
INT 35 (2D6+3 x 5)
